West Coast Eagles legends reunite for Perth charity game

Camera IconFormer Eagles stars Daniel Kerr and Ashley Sampi will be playing in the first of what they hope will become an annual charity fundraiser curtain-raiser at the WAFL on Saturday.Picture: The West Australian, Danella Bevis.

Daniel Kerr is on a mission to foster a tighter bond between the Eagles who have become OWLS.

West Coast’s “Older, Wiser, Larger, Slower” alumni of greats — a post-football project started by club legend John Worsfold — will gather on Saturday to play a team of former Perth stars as a curtain-raiser to the WAFL clash between the co-tenants at Mineral Resources Park.

Kerr, a one-time Eagles bad-boy whose soccer-playing sister Sam is one of Australia’s most high-profile athletes, said the match was unlikely to reach any great skill heights, but would serve an important purpose.

“Perth legends versus Eagles OWLS ... why not get a few of the old boys back together,” Kerr said.

Camera IconAshley Sampi’s 2004 AFL Mark of the Year.Picture: WA News

“The past champions of the club are the culture of the club, whether it’s bad culture you’ve learnt from or good culture you’re breeding. My era, to a degree, was probably part of making the Eagles rebuild their culture to the point where it is now by far the best in the competition.

“I’m a proud West Coast Eagles man.”

The legends concept will be supported by Hungry Jack’s, a sponsor for both West Coast and Perth, with an eye for the event to become an annual fundraiser for charity.

Kerr, who is pushing the OWLS revival with now Melbourne-based 2006 premiership teammate Sam Butler, joked that the AFLX-style game would mean limited space on the wing and virtually deny Michael Braun any chance of getting a kick.

He was also worried about how seriously former small forward Phil Matera would take the game.

But he said said seeing another ex-Eagles star Ashley Sampi today was a timely reminder of the friendships made in football.

Camera IconAshley Sampi and Daniel Kerr during a drill in their playing days.Picture: WA News

“I love Samps, Chris Judd and I used to try and be as good as him when he first rocked up,” Kerr said.

“He was one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen and catching up with him brings an instant smile to your face. When you catch up with the boys it always feels like you saw them yesterday.

“We’re trying to get the OWLS together more often to make it an even more unique club and environment than it has been in the past.”

Sampi said he was highly unlikely to repeat his soaring 2004 AFL Mark of the Year effort in a week where new Eagles star Liam Ryan produced a leading nomination for this year’s award.

“The knees are gone and I can’t jump any more,” Sampi laughed.

“So we’ll have to rule that one out unless someone comes down and gives me a boosting hand to get on someone’s shoulders. Then I’ll have a crack.

“We’ll just run around and have a few laughs and see who thinks they’re fit enough to be able to still play today.”